Method of awarding a prize

ABSTRACT

A method of awarding a prize to a user of an electronic gaming machine (EGM) in a network. The network includes a plurality of venues in which each venue includes at least one EGM. The method includes querying the EGMs to determine changes in win meters of the respective EGMs during a polling cycle. The change in the win meter representative of at least one of a number of wins or an amount won by the corresponding EGM over the cycle. The method also includes deciding to award the prize based on responses to the querying and selecting a winning venue from the network. The method also includes selecting a winning EGM at the winning venue, wherein probabilities of the respective EGMs being selected as the winning EGM are proportional to the changes in the win meters of the respective EGMs at the winning venue over the cycle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/549,075, filed on Sep. 12, 2005 (the “'075 Application”), which wasthe National Stage of International Application No. PCT/AU2004/00294,filed on Mar. 10, 2004, which claims priority to Australian PatentApplication No. 2003901093, filed on Mar. 11, 2003. The '075 Applicationis incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The inventive subject matter described herein relates to a method ofawarding prizes. The inventive subject matter described herein findsparticular application in a network of electronic gaming machines.

There are numerous methods of awarding prizes such as raffles, chocolatewheels, lottery tickets, casino games and slot or poker machines. Muchof the prior art relating to electronic prize award methods is concernedwith electronic gaming machines, particularly those known as pokermachines or slot machines.

Electronic gaming machines (EGM) provide game play by accepting a coinor token in exchange for the spin of a number of wheels. Older machinesactually have mechanically spinning wheels but modern machines arecompletely electronic. The spinning wheels are actually a video displaythat gives the appearance of rotating wheels of various icons. If apredetermined combination of icons align in the window an immediateprize is awarded and credited to the machine.

The electronic machines provide a range of meters for monitoring themachine activity. These meters include at least the following:

Credits-in: A count of the actual number of credits contributed by aplayer. This is often counted as a number of base denominations. Forexample, a machine that plays one-dollar coins may count 100 credits percoin although it may display to the player as one credit on thatmachine. On a machine that plays five-cent credits the credit meter willstill count 100 credits although the machine will display 20 credits tothe player.Credits-out: A count of the actual number of credits taken from themachine by a player. If a player reinvests all winnings the credits-outmeter will not make a recording. On the other hand, if a player puts inone dollar and then takes the same dollar back out, both meters willread 100 credits.Strokes: A count of the actual plays made. This meter counts the numberof times game play is activated, rather than the actual number of gamesplayed. For example, some machines allow multiple lines to be playedeach game. Whether one line or five lines are played the meter onlycounts one stroke.Turnover: A count of the total number of credits that are processed bythe machine. If a player reinvests credits that are won during game playthe turnover meter will record a number much greater than the credits-inmeter. However, if a player always takes won credits from the machinethe turnover will equal the credits-in. Most players replay small winsand thus the turnover meter normally records a number greater than thecredits-in meter.Wins: A count of the credits won on the machine during normal game play.Certain combinations of icons are predetermined to be winningcombinations. When a game play results in a winning combination anamount of credits is read from a payout table and recorded by the winmeter. The machine will normally display the amount of a win until thenext game play. The win meter accumulates all wins paid on a machine.

It will be evident that turnover equals credits-in plus wins minuscredits-out and is therefore affected by the playing approach of aplayer. For example, a player who is only interested in collecting largewins may have meter reading changes of: Credits in—20; Strokes—55;Wins—100; Credits out—0; Turnover—120. Another player with the sameinitial investment and the same luck may have: Credits in—20;Strokes—15; Wins—100; Credits out—80; Turnover—30.

It is evident from the example above that systems that award prizes onthe basis of turnover are skewed towards players that leave theirwinnings in the machine and therefore encourage excessive gambling.Notwithstanding the skewing, or perhaps because of it, systems have beendeveloped to increase patronage in gaming machine establishments thatare based on turnover.

One approach has been to award jackpot prizes that are separate from theprizes awarded by each individual machine. Typically, these jackpotprize systems operate across a number of machines linked in a local areaor wide area network. A prize is accumulated by adding a smallpercentage of turnover each game play (or stroke). The accumulatingjackpot is displayed to patrons as an incentive to increase play toimprove the chance of winning the jackpot. Typically these prizes aresignificantly greater than any machine based prize.

One of the earliest and most extensively used methods of awarding ajackpot prize for linked gaming machines is the system commonly known inAustralia as the Frankovic system or Dauma. It is described inAustralian patent number 589158. In a Frankovic system a number ofgaming machines are linked to a central jackpot controller. When thejackpot controller is initialized a random number is chosen between aminimum (or reset) value and a maximum value. Each time a machine on thelink is played it generates a signal which is counted until theincremental count reaches the random number. The machine that incrementsthe count to the random number wins the prize. Frankovic is a ‘firstpast the post’ system and is considered to be deterministic because theprobability of a prize being awarded increases as the count approachesthe upper limit.

Soon after the introduction of the Frankovic system a system knowngenerically as Hyperlink was introduced by Aristocrat TechnologiesAustralia Pty Ltd. The Hyperlink system is described in a number ofpatent applications but International patent application numberPCT/AU98/00525 is representative. In the Hyperlink system a jackpotprize is awarded when a trigger condition is satisfied. The triggercondition is dependent upon the number of credits bet per game on agaming machine.

The Neurizon system (known in the market in one embodiment as PowerCash)is described in Australian patent number 714299. The Neurizon system isa method of awarding a jackpot prize where the probability of anelectronic gaming machine being awarded the prize is dependent upon theamount of turnover on the machine in a preceding period of time, ratherthan on individual games.

A system known in the market as Megagold is described in Internationalpatent application number PCT/AU00/01011. The Megagold system uses athree step process to award a jackpot prize. In the first step adecision is made whether to award a prize or not during a poll cycle.The decision is random but may be conditioned by the total amount ofturnover by all linked machines during the poll cycle. If a decision ismade to award a prize a process is followed to select a venue in whichthe probability of a venue being selected is proportional to the amountof turnover at a venue relative to the turnover at all venues in thepoll cycle. Once a venue is selected a similar process is followed toselect a winning machine in which the probability of a machine beingselected is proportional to the amount of turnover on that machinerelative to the turnover on all machines at the venue in the poll cycle.

The first two systems described above are considered to be deterministicwhereas the latter two are considered to be non-deterministic. Anon-deterministic prize award system is one in which the triggering of aprize award is not dependent on a previous event, and in which theprobability of winning a prize does not increase over time.

All of the known prize award systems, whether for wide area or localarea network applications, are based on turnover per game played orturnover in a given period of time. No alternatives exist or have beensuggested.

DISCLOSURE

In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadestform, the inventive subject matter includes a method of awarding a prizeto a user of an electronic gaming machine in a network of electronicgaming machines where the probability of each electronic gaming machinewinning the prize is dependent upon a change in a win meter of theelectronic gaming machine over a polling cycle.

The polling cycle is suitably as short as possible while allowing timeto collect all required data and perform all required calculations.Typically the polling cycle will be between one and ten seconds.

In a further form the inventive subject matter includes a method ofawarding a prize to a user of an electronic gaming machine in a networkof venues of electronic gaming machines, there being a network ofmultiple electronic gaming machines at each venue, including the stepsof:

-   -   a. randomly determining whether to award a prize;    -   b. randomly selecting a winning venue for award of the prize;    -   c. randomly selecting a winning electronic gaming machine at the        winning venue; and    -   d. awarding the prize to the winning electronic gaming machine;        wherein the probability of each electronic gaming machine        winning the prize is dependent upon a change in a win meter of        the electronic transaction machine over a polling cycle.

Preferably the step of randomly determining whether to award a prizeincludes the steps of:

-   -   i) generating a random number;    -   ii) comparing the random number to a prize hit value; and    -   iii) deciding to award the prize if the random number matches        the prize hit value.

The random number is preferably selected from within a range inverselyproportional to the total accumulated change in win meter across allelectronic gaming machines in the network of electronic gaming machinesover the polling cycle.

Preferably the step of randomly selecting a winning venue for award ofthe prize includes the steps of:

-   -   iv) randomly determining a venue hit number from within a range        equal to the total accumulated change in win meter across all        electronic gaming machines in the network over a polling cycle;    -   v) adding together a total increase in win meter from each venue        over a poll cycle until addition of the change in win meter from        a particular venue results in the venue hit number being equaled        or exceeded.

Preferably the step of randomly selecting a winning electronic gamingmachine at the winning venue includes the steps of:

-   -   vi) randomly determining an electronic gaming machine hit number        from within a range equal to the total accumulated change in win        meter across all electronic gaming machines at the winning venue        over a polling cycle;    -   vii) adding together a total increase in win meter from each        electronic gaming machine at the winning venue over a poll cycle        until addition of the change in win meter from a particular        electronic gaming machine results in the electronic gaming        machine hit number being equaled or exceeded.

The prize may conveniently be accumulated each cycle as a percentage ofthe total change in all win meters across the network over the pollingcycle.

All steps of the method are suitably conducted at a central prizecontroller in signal communication with the venues.

There may suitably be one or more venue controllers associated with eachvenue.

In a further form the inventive subject matter includes a system forawarding prizes in a linked network of electronic gaming machines, thesystem comprising:

-   -   a central prize controller;    -   a plurality of electronic gaming machines; and    -   a communications network linking said central prize controller        to said electronic gaming machines;    -   wherein the central prize controller includes a processor that        performs the steps of:        -   a. randomly determining whether to award a prize;        -   b. randomly selecting a winning venue for award of the            prize;        -   c. randomly selecting a winning electronic gaming machine at            the winning venue; and        -   d. awarding the prize to the winning electronic gaming            machine; wherein the probability of each electronic gaming            machine winning the prize is dependent upon a change in a            win meter of the electronic gaming machine over a polling            cycle.

The electronic gaming machines may be arranged into one or more venuesand there may be one or more venue controllers associated with eachvenue. Suitably the electronic gaming machines at a venue are linked ina local area network and the venue controllers are linked to the centralprize controller in a wide area network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To assist in understanding the inventive subject matter, preferredembodiments will be described with reference to the following figures inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a prize awardingsystem;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a prize awardingsystem;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the steps of one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of a polling cycle;

FIG. 5 illustrates the steps during a polling cycle;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a prize accumulation process;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of selecting a winningelectronic gaming machine in one embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates network data flow during a polling cycle in oneembodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating a prize amountin one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic layout of a systemsuitable for working the inventive subject matter. In the embodimentshown there are twelve electronic gaming machines (EGMs) 1 connected toa central prize controller (CPC) 2 in a network 3. This embodiment isapplicable to a wide area network of electronic gaming machines (EGMs)that are all connected directly into the network. It is also applicableto a local area network of electronic gaming machines at a single venue.

For wide area applications it will be more convenient to configure EGMsinto local area networks 4 that are grouped at a single venue, as shownin FIG. 2. A venue controller (VC) 5 provides an interface between thelocal area network 4 and the CPC in a wide area network 6.

Various display devices 7 may be provided to advise players of thecurrent available prize. As described below, a prize may be an item(such as a car or a holiday), a fixed dollar amount, or a progressiveprize of the type known in the prior art. It is preferable thatsufficient display devices are employed that every player who has achance of winning a prize is able to see a display that shows the prizeon offer. For clarity, only one display device has been shown at eachvenue in FIG. 2. The display devices are conveniently driven from theVC. For the embodiment of FIG. 1 only a single display device is shownbut it will be appreciated that numerous display devices may bescattered throughout the network.

The CPC 2 is the controller at the centre of the prize awarding system.All significant steps of the prize awarding system are conducted by theCPC, and only by the CPC. This ensures the integrity of the system andprevents multiple prizes from being awarded per polling cycle, as willbecome clear in later description. The VCs provide local housekeepingfunctions such as monitoring machine operation, controlling displays andmanaging communication. There can be more than one VC at a venue.

The following description will focus on the particular application ofthe prize award system to a network of EGMs by reference to the overviewflow chart of FIG. 3. The flow charts of FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 provide moredetail of key aspects. The process depicted in FIG. 3 is performed bythe CPC. The process is started and a boot routine performs normalchecks and sets variables to commencing values.

A starting value for a prize is established when the prize award systemis initialized. The prize may be a fixed value item, like a car orholiday, or an incrementing value. Typically an incrementing prize isincreased by adding a small percentage of accumulated transaction valueto the prize each cycle.

A polling cycle is established by a timer in the CPC. Each cycle allvenues are polled to obtain the current win meter values. These valuesare checked to ensure that the meter is equal to or more than theprevious reading and that the increase is not larger than a reasonablenumber. If the security checks fail the system enters an error handlingmode. The winnings from all venues are added to obtain the actual cyclewinnings for that poll. If an incrementing prize is implemented, theprize level is incremented from a small percentage of the actual cyclewinnings in the cycle. This part of the process is shown in FIG. 4.

The next step of the preferred method is to establish whether to award aprize during the current cycle. This step is shown in the flow chart ofFIG. 5. After suitable security checks a check is made for any wincontributions during the cycle. If there have been no wins during thecycle the system waits for the next poll cycle and recommences theprocess. If there have been wins on the system a range is establishedfor a random number and a random number is selected within the range. Itis convenient for the range to be inversely proportional to the actualcycle winnings over the polling cycle. This is the total of the increasein win meter from all machines on the network during the poll cycle. Ifthe selected number matches a hit number (which is conveniently one) aprize will be awarded. If not, the test will be conducted in the nextpolling cycle.

The range for the random number is calculated from predeterminedparameters that set the approximate frequency at which a prize will beawarded.

The next part of the method is to identify the machine to be awarded theprize. This is conveniently done in two parts. First a winning venue isselected according to the process shown in FIG. 6 and then a winning EGMis selected at the winning venue according to the process of FIG. 7. Itwill be appreciated that all machines could be connected on a singlelink and processed in a single cycle (as shown by the broken line inFIG. 3). Nonetheless, the inventors have found that there are processingadvantages in performing the selection process in the two steps shown.

To select a winning venue a random number is selected within a rangeequal to the total of the increase in win meter from all venues on thenetwork during the poll cycle. The total increase in win meter from eachvenue is added in a predetermined order until the random number isequaled or exceeded. The venue responsible for equaling or exceeding therandom number is the winning venue. It will be appreciated that by thisprocess a venue must be selected once a decision is made to award aprize. Of course, venues that have not had any change in win meter onany machine do not have any chance of being awarded a prize and are notprocessed.

To select a winning EGM a random number is selected within a range equalto the total of the increase in win meter from all EGMs on the networkat the venue during the poll cycle. The total increase in win meter fromeach EGM is added in a predetermined order until the random number isequaled or exceeded. The EGM responsible for equaling or exceeding therandom number is the winning EGM. The prize is awarded to the winningEGM and various win messages are displayed at the machine and thevenues. Only EGMs that have recorded a change in win meter in the pollcycle are considered for award of the prize. All other EGMs are excludedfrom processing.

The process may then be repeated by resetting the prize, usually to asmall seed value, and following the process of FIG. 3. It should benoted that the steps of selecting the venue and selecting the EGM onlyoccur if it is determined in the first step that a prize should beawarded.

To assist in understanding the method a specific example using the winmeter and a six second poll cycle will be described. This method ensuresthat to have a chance of winning a prize a player must have played theEGM during that poll cycle and then the probability of a win depends onthe accumulated amount won during that poll cycle. Therefore EGMs withno winning combination during that poll cycle are ruled out as part ofthe selection process, irrespective of the level of turnover.

The implementation provides multiple levels of prizes however each prizelevel operates the same way, only the values are different. Up to 3360EGMs are linked across a network of up to 140 venues. It works on asix-second poll cycle with the Central Prize Controller (CPC)controlling all functions and timing.

Although the implementation is capable of multiple prize levels, onlyone prize level will be discussed here for simplicity. With multipleprize levels the functions are the same and all prize levels arecalculated simultaneously.

At the start of a normal six-second poll cycle the CPC performs ageneral poll of all 140 venues and receives back from all venues theaccumulated winnings at that Venue and an EGM CRC verification number.The CRC is a security protocol commonly implemented in gaming machinenetworks. It does not form part of the inventive subject matter.

The Venue winnings are cumulative and roll over at 4,294,967,295 (for a32 bit implementation). The EGM CRC Verification number is a numberarrived at by calculating a CRC across the six-second winnings of eachEGM at that venue.

For example, if there were three EGMs at the Venue and they had sixsecond machine winnings for this poll of $3.00, $2.00, and $2.50respectively, the EGM CRC verification number is calculated by running aCRC across the $3.00 then continuing across the $2.00 and continuingacross the $2.50. The resultant number is the EGM CRC verificationnumber, which is sent every poll cycle but used only during the prizeverification process.

The CPC then checks the accumulated winnings of each venue for that pollby verifying that the amount sent by the venue does not exceed arealistic value.

For example, if a venue misses one poll cycle, and if this check was notperformed, the venue accumulated winnings could be an amount playedduring 12 seconds (two poll cycles), this would be unrealistic. Howeversince the CPC “knows” that the VC missed one poll it will allow thisamount. Also, if there was tampering on the venue side to try andsimulate a very large win in order to be favored during a prize pickingprocess the unrealistic amount would be identified and the system wouldshut down.

Each venue accumulated winnings, which passes this verification, isadded to form a new value known as the Actual Cycle Winnings (ACW). Whenall venues have been polled and the actual cycle winnings created, apercentage of the winnings contributed is calculated and added to thecurrent Prize amount. All Prize data is then backed up to NVRAM and aCRC is built across the prize data. Once all prize levels are done, thesystem determines “range”.

Range is effectively the chance of winning during that poll cycle and isinversely proportional to the Actual Cycle Winnings during that poll.i.e. The greater the amount of the payouts during the poll the smallerthe Range number and hence the greater the chance of winning a prize.

The Random Number Generator uses the Range number as its range and picksa number. If the number is equal to the hit number a prize is awarded.The hit number is selected to be one. One is chosen because the rangefor the random number generator scales with the actual cycle winnings.Although unlikely, it is possible for the ACW to be very large so thatthe range becomes small. The minimum possible range is one, in whichcase a prize will always be awarded.

Range is calculated using preset constants as the prize systemparameters. These are System Range and Expected Winnings Contributed(EWC). System Range is a number, which determines the overall (probable)frequency at which a prize level will trigger and EWC is the ExpectedWinnings Contributed to the prize each poll. These constants aredetermined at commissioning of the prize award system and are based onhistorical data. These parameters can be adjusted.

These two figures are used to calculate Range such that

Range=System Range×EWC/ACW.

Once all prize levels are processed, and there is a prize hit, thewinning venue is picked.

To pick a winning venue, the actual cycle winnings are used as the rangefor a random number generator and a number is picked. This is thevenue-hit number. The cycle winnings from each venue are then added(starting at venue one) and the venue, which equals or exceeds thevenue-hit number, is the winning venue.

For example, let's say there are three venues (for the purpose ofexplanation disregard how many EGMs each has for the moment) and theyeach have a venue cycle winnings as follows. Venue one has $9.00, venuetwo $3.00 and venue three $4.00 during that poll. That gives an actualcycle winnings of $16.00. The RNG picks a number in a range from 1 c to$16.00 and this number becomes the venue hit number. Let's say it is$10.00. The system now adds the cycle winnings from each venue startingat venue one. Starting with a value of zero, we add in venue one and wehave $9.00 this does not equal or exceed $10.00 (the venue hit number)so we add in venue two. We now have $9.00 plus $3.00, which equals$12.00. This exceeds $10.00 and venue two is therefore the winningvenue.

Once all winning venues have been allocated winning prize levels, thevenues are polled (still within the six second poll) to request EGM datafor picking a winning EGM at the venue.

The winning venue provides an EGM data response with the six-secondwinnings from each EGM (starting at EGM one). The CPC then runs a CRCover these values and verifies it with the EGM CRC verification number,which it received during the general poll response. If this verificationfails, the whole system is shut down because it indicates a possibletampering with the prize. If this verification passes, the systemcontinues with picking the winning EGM.

The picking of the winning EGM is performed in the same way as with thepicking of the winning venue. The venues contributed winnings are usedas a range for the RNG and the RNG picks a number, called the EGM hitnumber. The winnings from each EGM (during that poll cycle) is thenadded (starting at EGM one) and the EGM that equals or exceeds the EGMhit number is the winning EGM.

For example, let's say there are three EGMs and they have EGM payouts asfollows. EGM one has $3.00, EGM two $2.00 and EGM three $2.00 duringthat poll. That gives a Venue contributed winnings of $7.00. The RNGpicks a number in a range from 1 c to $7.00 and this number becomes theEGM hit number. Let's say it is $5.00. The system now adds the winningsfrom each EGM starting at EGM one. Starting with a value of zero, add inEGM one of $3.00, this does not equal or exceed $5.00 (the EGM hitnumber) so add in EGM two. Now $3.00 plus $2.00, equals $5.00. Thisequals $5.00 and EGM two is therefore the winning EGM.

A WIN message is sent to the winning VC. The current prize parametersare reset with the pending prize parameters. The WIN message is sent toall other online venues and the next poll cycle starts with the generalpoll.

The probability of any particular EGM winning a prize can be calculatedby:

$P_{EGM} = {\frac{{EGM}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}}{{venue}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}}*\frac{{venue}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}}{{total}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}}*\frac{{total}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}}{{actual}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}\mspace{14mu} {contributed}}}$

Cancelling terms above and below the vinculum gives the equation:

$P_{EGM} = \frac{{EGM}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}}{{actual}\mspace{14mu} {winnings}\mspace{14mu} {contributed}}$

Therefore, the probability of each EGM winning a prize on the system isrelated to the amount won from winning combinations on the EGM duringthe poll cycle. As explained above, this is a different outcome fromprior art methods that are based on turnover.

All required data collection and data processing occurs in the pollingcycle. One example of network data flow to achieve a six second pollcycle is shown in FIG. 8.

The communication commences with a general poll by the CPC to each VC.The poll signal duration is about 620 msec and it takes about 3 sec forall VC's to respond. After all data is received (by about 3.62 sec) theprize award calculation is performed. It takes approximately 20 msec toperform this calculation. If there is a decision to award no prize thereis general housekeeping and then the system awaits the next poll whichcommences at 6 sec.

If the decision is to award a prize the CPC issues a “Win Pending”message which is displayed at all venues. The CPC determines the winningvenue then requests EGM data from the selected venue. A “Winning Venue”signal may be sent to the selected venue, and possibly other venues. Thesystem then determines the winning machine by requesting EGM data fromthe selected venue and selecting the winning EGM. A “Winning EGM” signalis sent to all venues and to the selected EGM. Each venue and thewinning EGM must acknowledge the win signal or the prize is not awardedand another attempt to award the prize to the winning EGM is made. Theprize is reset and the process recommences.

It is possible that when there is win to award the processing may extendbeyond six seconds. In this case the VC continues to collect data andthe CPC catches up on the next poll cycle in which no prize is awarded.

The poll cycle is a key aspect of the operation of the method ofawarding a prize. A 6-second poll cycle has been shown by the inventorsto be appropriate for current processor technology. For smaller networksor faster processors a shorter poll cycle will be possible. At present,a poll cycle between 1 second and 10 seconds is suitable for mostsituations.

As mentioned above, all venues are polled to obtain the change in winmeter since the last poll. At the start of the poll cycle all venues arerequested in a general poll to supply the value of the win meter. Eachvalue is tested to ensure that it is not less than the previous receivedvalue. If the new win meter value is less than the old win meter valuethere is an error condition and the system is suspended while errorhandling routines are performed.

If the new win meter value is greater than or equal to the old win metervalue the value is checked to ensure that it is not greater than amaximum anticipated value. Once again the system is suspended for errorprocessing routines if this condition is not met. Providing both errorcheck conditions are satisfied the new win meter value is recorded andthe difference from the old win meter reading is added to the actualcycle winnings.

The process is repeated for all venues until the last venue is reached.

An identical process is followed for the EGMs at a winning venue. Itwill be appreciated that the same process could be applied directly tothe EGMs in a small network or to a large network if network latenciesare sufficiently small to allow all processing to occur in a reasonabletime.

The process for updating the prize amount is shown in FIG. 9. Asmentioned earlier, the prize may be an incrementing amount that adds asmall percentage of the change in the total of the accumulated win meterfrom all machines in a poll cycle. This process may occur as part of theprocessing in the CPC or it may be independent. The flowchart of FIG. 9shows the process where there are multiple prize levels.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventive subjectmatter is a significant departure from the prize awarding methodsdescribed in the prior art. The prior art systems rely upon turnover todetermine prize awards. The present inventive subject matter does notuse the turnover as the basis for the prize award method, instead ituses changes in the win meter.

Throughout the specification the aim has been describe the inventivesubject matter and a preferred embodiment. It is envisaged that theinventive subject matter may be applied beyond the specific embodimentsdescribed without departing from the scope of the inventive subjectmatter.

1. A method of awarding a prize to a user of an electronic gamingmachine (EGM) in a network, the network including a plurality of venuesin which each venue includes at least one EGM having a win meter, themethod comprising: querying the EGMs to determine changes in the winmeters of the respective EGMs during a polling cycle, the change in thewin meter representative of at least one of a number of wins or anamount won by the corresponding EGM over the polling cycle; deciding toaward the prize based on responses to the querying; selecting a winningvenue from the network; selecting a winning EGM at the winning venue,wherein probabilities of the respective EGMs being selected as thewinning EGM are proportional to the changes in the win meters of therespective EGMs at the winning venue over the polling cycle.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the probabilities of the respective EGMsbeing selected as the winning EGM are directly proportional to thechanges in the win meters of the respective EGMs.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the probabilities of the respective EGMs being selected asthe winning EGM are directly proportional to the changes in the winmeters of the respective EGMs and inversely proportional to a sum of thechanges in the win meters of the EGMs in the network over the pollingcycle.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the probabilities of therespective EGMs being selected as the winning EGM increase when the winmeter of the respective EGMs increase and the probabilities decreasewhen the win meters of the respective EGMs decrease.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the probabilities of the respective EGMs being selectedas the winning EGM increase when a sum of the changes in the win metersof the EGMs in the network over the polling cycle decreases and theprobabilities decrease when the sum of the changes in the win meters ofthe EGMs in the network over the polling cycle increases.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein the polling cycle is a designated amount of timethat is less than or equal to 10 seconds.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein selecting the winning EGM from the winning venue occurs afterdetermining to award the prize and is not based on previous changes inwin meters of the EGMs in prior polling cycles.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein selecting a winning venue from the network includes:determining a venue hit number from within a range that is based on anaccumulated change in winnings (ACW) over the polling cycle, the ACWbeing a sum of the changes in the win meters of the EGMs in the venues,wherein each of the venues has a venue sum that is a sum of the changesin the win meters of the EGMs over the polling cycle for thecorresponding venue; and incrementally summing the venue sums until avalue of the summing equals or exceeds the venue hit number, wherein thevenue associated with the venue sum that caused the value to equal orexceed the venue hit number is selected as the winning venue.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein selecting the winning venue and selecting thewinning EGM occurs after the prize is determined to be awarded.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the probabilities of the respective EGMsbeing selected as the winning EGM are independent of amounts of turnoverof the respective EGMs.
 11. A system for awarding a prize to a user ofan electronic gaming machine (EGM) in a network, the network including aplurality of venues in which each venue includes at least one EGM havinga win meter, the system comprising: a central prize controllerconfigured to receive data from the EGMs, the data regarding changes inthe win meters of the respective EGMs during a polling cycle, the changein the win meter representative of at least one of a number of wins oran amount won by the corresponding EGM over the polling cycle; whereinthe central prize controller includes a processor that selects a winningEGM at a winning venue, the winning venue being selected from one of thevenues of the network, wherein probabilities of the respective EGMsbeing selected as the winning EGM are proportional to the changes in thewin meters of the respective EGMs at the winning venue over the pollingcycle.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the probabilities of therespective EGMs being selected as the winning EGM are directlyproportional to the changes in the win meters of the respective EGMs.13. The system of claim 11, wherein the probabilities of the respectiveEGMs being selected as the winning EGM are directly proportional to thechanges in the win meters of the respective EGMs and inverselyproportional to a sum of the changes in the win meters of the EGMs inthe network over the polling cycle.
 14. The system of claim 11, whereinthe probabilities of the respective EGMs being selected as the winningEGM increase when the win meter of the respective EGMs increase and theprobabilities decrease when the win meters of the respective EGMsdecrease.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the probabilities of therespective EGMs being selected as the winning EGM increase when a sum ofthe changes in the win meters of the EGMs in the network over thepolling cycle decreases and the probabilities decrease when the sum ofthe changes in the win meters of the EGMs in the network over thepolling cycle increases.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the centralprize controller is configured to select a winning venue from the venuesof the network.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the central prizecontroller is configured to select the winning venue from the networkby: determining a venue hit number from within a range that is based onan accumulated change in winnings (ACW) over the polling cycle, the ACWbeing a sum of the changes in the win meters of the EGMs in the venues,wherein each of the venues has a venue sum that is a sum of the changesin the win meters of the EGMs over the polling cycle for thecorresponding venue; and incrementally summing the venue sums until avalue of the summing equals or exceeds the venue hit number, wherein thevenue associated with the venue sum that caused the value to equal orexceed the venue hit number is selected as the winning venue.
 18. Amethod of awarding a prize to a user of an electronic gaming machine(EGM) in a network, the network including active venues in which eachactive venue of the network includes at least one EGM having a win meterthat has changed during a polling cycle, the method comprising: decidingthat the prize should be awarded; selecting a winning venue from theactive venues of the network, wherein selecting the winning venueincludes: determining a venue hit number from within a range that isbased on an accumulated change in winnings (ACW) over the polling cycle,the ACW being a sum of the changes in the win meters of the EGMs in theactive venues, wherein each of the active venues has a venue sum that isa sum of the changes in the win meters of the EGMs over the pollingcycle for the corresponding active venue; and summing the venue sumsuntil a value of the summing equals or exceeds the venue hit number,wherein the active venue associated with the venue sum that causes thevalue to equal or exceed the venue hit number is selected as the winningvenue; and awarding the prize to a user of the winning venue.
 19. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the network further comprises an inactivevenue in which each inactive venue does not have an EGM with a win meterthat has changed during the polling cycle.
 20. A method of awarding aprize to a user of an electronic gaming machine (EGM) in a network, thenetwork including EGMs that have a win meter, wherein a change in thewin meter is at least one of a number of wins or an amount won by thecorresponding EGM over a polling cycle, the method comprising:determining that the prize should be awarded; selecting a winning EGMfrom a set of the EGMs, wherein the set of the EGMs includes a pluralityof the EGMs or all of the EGMs of the network, wherein selecting thewinning EGM includes: determining an EGM hit number from within a rangethat is based on a sum of the changes of the win meters of the set ofthe EGMs over the polling cycle; and summing the changes of the winmeters of the set of the EGMs until a value of the summing equals orexceeds the EGM hit number, wherein the EGM associated with the changethat caused the value to equal or exceed the EGM hit number is selectedas the winning EGM; and awarding the prize to a user of the winning EGM.